Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Noise

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 8 March (HL13565), whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the HS2 noise prediction model data from high speed trains in France.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Appendix SV‐001‐000: Annex D2 in Volume 5 of the publicly available HS2 Phase 1 Environmental Statement relates to the validation of the HS2 prediction methodology for operational noise from the railway, as set out in the attached document. Figure 1 in Annex D2 presents measured maximum noise levels for French TGV and German ICE trains compared with the maximum level forecast using the original HS1 calculation method. These measurements were referenced in the Written Answer further to my last answer on 8 March. All Environmental Statement documents have been published online.Vol 5 (pdf, 2932.8KB)

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Chilterns

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Environment Agency has given full approval for the construction works of the HS2 Chiltern Tunnel and, if so, when; what risk assessments have been made in connection with this approval in respect of the Chiltern Aquifer regarding, (1) the risk of pollution to the water supply for (a) local residents, and (b) residents of London, and (2) the loss or diversion of the River Misbourne; and whether they will place copies of any such assessments in the Library of the House.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Approval for the construction of the Chilterns Tunnel has not yet been granted, pending the finalisation of the necessary risk assessments and monitoring plans, which are in an advance stage of production and review.The following assessments have been produced in respect of tunnelling through the Chalk aquifer:- Groundwater Assessment for Construction Tasks: Tunnel and Cross Passages- Chiltern Tunnel Construction Water Environment Assessment (currently in draft)- Construction of Chiltern Tunnel Site Specific Groundwater Monitoring (currently in draft)This work provides a full assessment of the risks to groundwater quality, groundwater flow, public water supplies and the River Misbourne. Such assessments are not routinely placed in the House Library as the work is ongoing, and they are updated as and when necessary. Individual assessments may be released upon request, subject to any required redactions.HS2 Ltd manages all risks associated with the delivery of the railway through their Corporate Risk registers. As we [the Govt.] has made clear, they must demonstrate compliance with the requisite technical, safety and environmental standards at all times.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Noise

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances have they received from HS2 Ltd that they will not seek to derogate responsibilities on noise limits set outin its information paperE20: Control of Airborne Noise from Altered Roads and the Operational Railway, published on 30 July 2014, should HS2 operational noise levels exceed agreed noise limits.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: HS2 Ltd will build on the work of existing high speed networks, utilising best practice from other European high speed projects, and improving on those railways where it is possible to do so. HS2 Information Paper F4: Operational Noise and Vibration Monitoring Framework sets out HS2 Ltd’s commitments to monitor the noise and vibration performance of the operational railway. Paragraph 3.2 describes the actions to be taken where the performance deviates from the expected conditions:a) If the measured performance is better than the expected conditions:  - A study to document the reasons why assets are achieving a higher performance than expected  - A review of further improvements to other assets that could potentially benefit from the technology transfer of the high performing assets  b) If the measured performance is worse than the expected conditions:  - A study to identify the root cause and all possible solutions to the low performance  - An investigation of other similar assets that could also be underperforming  - Corrective action to improve existing performance and prevent future loss of performance so far as this may be required to achieve the objectives set out in the Information Papers E20, E21 and E22 The relevant paragraphs of Information paper F4 are included as binding assurances (numbers 1041 and 1042) on the public register of HS2 Undertakings and Assurances.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Noise

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they havemade of the risk of HS2 train noise exceeding the limitsset out in the information paper by HS2 Ltd, E20: Control of Airborne Noise from Altered Roads and the Operational Railway, published on 30 July 2014, as a result of (1) operational noise assumptions, and (2) noise prediction model uncertainty; and whether that risk has been recorded in the HS2 costs and risk estimates.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: HS2 Ltd is integrating the design of HS2 by developing requirements and specifications for each of the of the parts of the railway that contribute to the end-state noise generated by operational services, so that the objectives set out in HS2 Information Paper E20 are delivered. HS2 Ltd is continually monitoring planned performance against these requirements, and against the overall compliance with our noise commitments. HS2 Ltd manages all risks associated with the delivery of the railway through their Corporate Risk registers. This includes all risks relating to compliance with HS2 Information Paper E20, and includes the development of mitigation measures and treatment strategies intended to avoid or reduce the probability of the risk occurring and to reduce or control the impact of the risks should they occur.

Airports: Birmingham

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential benefits of the Birmingham Airport Connectivity Scheme for the levelling up agenda.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: This Government is committed to ensuring that transport and infrastructure investment levels up economies across the country. In examining the case for the Birmingham Airport Connectivity, as with all rail projects, it will be necessary to assess its contribution to the Government’s strategic priorities as part of the consideration of the business case for this proposal.

Railways: Repairs and Maintenance

Baroness Burt of Solihull: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect a decision will be made on the Birmingham Airport Connectivity scheme, as part of the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline process.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) for the North and Midlands is considering how best to deliver schemes such as HS2 Phase 2b, Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and Midlands Engine Rail in the North and Midlands. Birmingham Airport Connectivity project is part of the Midlands Engine Rail proposals and it will be appropriate to consider the case for this scheme when the Integrated Rail Plan concludes. We intend to publish the IRP this Spring.

Old Oak Common Station

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the latest estimated costs of the portions of Old Oak Common station attributable to (1) HS2, (2) Crossrail 1, and (3) Great Western services; andwhat are theother costs for Old Oak Common station which make up the total estimated cost.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Within the Target Cost for Phase One, the budget allocated by HS2 Ltd for Old Oak Common station, including contingency for risk, is £1.67bn (2019 prices). A more detailed breakdown of costs cannot be provided as this information is commercially sensitive. Old Oak Common is being designed and delivered as a single, integrated station and therefore costs cannot be neatly apportioned between the HS2 and conventional rail elements.

Shipping: Carbon Emissions

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks byLord Agnew of Oulton on 12 March (HL Deb, col 1977),what steps they are taking to contribute to decarbonisation of the maritime sector.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: For a greener maritime sector, Government is investing £20 million into a Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, to support the UK design and development of clean maritime technologies. This programme builds on the vision set out in the Department’s Clean Maritime Plan and underlines our commitment to addressing emissions from this sector. Further plans for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector will be set out in the forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

Biofuels: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether forthcoming legislation to require the sale of E10 petrol in 95 grade will apply to Northern Ireland.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: We plan to legislate for the mandating of E10 petrol in Northern Ireland. In line with our obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol we will notify the European Commission of our intention first.

Electric Scooters

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the e-scooters trials on (1) pedestrian safety, and (2) the capacity of the police to enforce road safety laws.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department is putting in place a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme. Surveys and interviews with e-scooter users and members of the public living in e-scooter trial areas will be conducted across a range of trial areas to track and understand instances of pavement riding and pavement parking. This will be carried out by our contractors Arup and NatCen Social Research. Enforcement of offences relating to unlawful use of powered transporters is an operational matter for individual Chief Officers of police in conjunction with local policing plans. In trial areas, e-scooter operators and local authorities are working with the police to enforce operational rules and monitor rider behaviour.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Redundancy: Coronavirus

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of job losses and business closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) women, and (2) ethnic minorities; and what action they are taking as a result.

Lord Callanan: Throughout this crisis, the Government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods whilst supporting businesses and public services across the UK. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is specifically designed to protect jobs, and it has been used by 1.3m employers to support 11.2m jobs. Since July, more than half of the jobs that have been furloughed were held by women, and we have ensured that women will not lose Statutory Maternity Pay if their roles have been furloughed. We recognise that unfortunately it has not been possible to protect every business and every job and our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this virus. While the pandemic has had a significant impact across the whole labour market, certain groups have been more affected than others. For example, the latest official statistics show that individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be out of work. Existing Covid-19 support measures and the measures announced at Budget 2021 seek to address this. The new Restart Grants will provide up to £6k for non-essential retail businesses and up to £18k for hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gyms, for example. The hospitality and personal care sectors have a higher proportion of employees that are young, female, BAME and without qualifications when compared to other industries. By contributing to business survival, these grants will therefore benefit these groups as a result. Moreover, VAT reductions and extending business rates relief for businesses in the hospitality sector will continue to protect both the UK economy and the livelihoods of people across the country, in particular BAME employees and women.

Department for Education

Pupils: Sexual Offences

Lord Field of Birkenhead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps aschool is legally obliged to take in response to an accusation of sexual assault being made byone pupil against another.

Baroness Berridge: ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE) is statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.Part 1 of KCSIE, which all staff should receive at induction, sets out what peer on peer abuse looks like, with detailed information covering child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment for staff who work directly with children. All staff should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training which is regularly updated.Part 5 of KCSIE sets out how schools and colleges should respond to reports of child-on-child sexual violence and sexual harassment.We also provide detailed advice to support schools and colleges to understand what sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges looks like, how to prevent it, how to respond to reports of it, and on how to support victims. This advice is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sexual-violence-and-sexual-harassment-between-children-in-schools-and-colleges.The guidance is very clear that all school staff should know what to do if a child tells them they are being abused or neglected.The guidance is also very clear that concerns about a child should be responded to immediately and referrals (generally led by the designated safeguarding lead) made to children’s social care and the police.

Newton Rigg College

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the contribution to agriculture in the UK (a) regionally, and (b) nationally, by Newton Rigg College in Cumbria, and (2) the potential future contribution of the College to agriculture in the UK; and what steps they plan to take to ensure longevity for the College and its resources.

Baroness Berridge: In 2020, the Further Education Commissioner undertook a local provision needs analysis of Newton Rigg Campus, located near Penrith, at the request of the governing body of Askham Bryan College. Its purpose was to establish whether there is a need for further education provision in the general location of the current campus. The analysis provided the governing body with options to consider regarding the future of provision at the campus. The analysis considered travel to learn data and mapping for young people and adult students, including enrolment density by ward and travel to learn time and pattern, based on public transport and by actual travel time by car. Most students studying agricultural provision at Newton Rigg at the time of the analysis tended to live closer to the campus and were mainly from Cumbria and surrounding counties.Further Education Colleges in England are independent of government and the decision to close Newton Rigg Campus in July 2021 and subsequently dispose of the site has been made by the governing body of Askham Bryan College.From September 2021, Kendal College have confirmed they will offer agricultural and other land-based provision from level 1 to level 3, which will be delivered in the Penrith area. In addition, a partnership between Myerscough College and Ullswater Community College will provide further education for young people in animal management and agriculture in the local area surrounding Newton Rigg.

National Tutoring Programme

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what qualifications an individual must have to be a tutor on the National Tutoring programme.

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether tutors on the National Tutoring Programme will require enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks; and, if so, how they plan to ensure all these tutors have completed such checks.

Baroness Berridge: High-quality tuition is one of the fundamental principles of the National Tutoring Programme (NTP), and we have worked closely with our delivery partners to ensure that this can be delivered across both pillars of the NTP.There is strong evidence which suggests that additional support (delivered by highly trained tutors that may or may not be qualified teachers) can have a positive impact, and can boost pupils’ progress by up to 5 months. The NTP has been designed to provide additional capacity to schools so that teachers and existing school staff can concentrate on high-quality teaching, which we recognise will make the most difference to pupils.Whilst each Tuition Partner is responsible for setting their own criteria for tutor qualifications, there is an expectation that tutors will be at least highly qualified graduates. We recognise that the education and experience of tutors is important to the delivery of quality tuition. However, tutors will still require training to ensure that delivery is in line with the model offered by the Tuition Partner. That is why when selecting tutoring organisations, our delivery partner, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) took into consideration the training offer available for tutors, and funding was allocated to those organisations with robust training programmes in place for all tutors to undertake.Individual Tuition Partners are responsible for managing their own safeguarding policies and procedures, with oversight from the EEF to ensure processes remain robust. However, all tutors are required to be enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service and Barred list checked (or best available equivalent for international tutors), and complete appropriate safeguarding training in order to work on this programme. Individual Tuition Partners are responsible for managing their own safeguarding policies and procedures, with oversight from the EEF to ensure processes remain robust and required standards are met.

Outdoor Education: Disability

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they have provided in the last 12 monthsfor residential outdoor education for children and families with disabilities; and what plans they have to provide further funding for such education.

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of funding that is required to enable (1) the Bendrigg Trust, (2) the Exmoor Calvert Trust, (3) the Northumbria Calvert Trust, and (4) the Lake District Calvert Trust, to remain open following the financial losses sustained by those specialist residential outdoor centres for children and families with disabilities in England as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and what plans they have to provide such funding.

Baroness Berridge: Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the government has sought to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods across the UK, and support businesses and public services. The government has spent over £280 billion to do so. This includes small business grants, the COVID-19 loan guarantee schemes, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the deferral of VAT and income tax payments, and more. The measures introduced have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK. In January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the extension of the deadline for applications for the Bounce Back Loan scheme and other loan schemes until 31 March 2021. Further measures were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 2021 Budget on 3 March including the extension of the CJRS until the end of September 2021, and increased support for the self-employed through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grants, with a fifth grant available from July 2021. The Recovery Loans Scheme will launch to make finance available to help businesses of all sizes through the next stage of recovery. More details of the scheme will be announced in due course.The government will continue to work closely with local authorities, businesses, business representative organisations, and the financial services sector to monitor the implementation of current support and understand whether there is additional need.The government would encourage businesses who are unable to access support or who are unsure of the support available to access free tailored advice through the Business Support Helpline (Freephone 0800 998 1098), via the Business Support website at: www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline or through or through local Growth Hubs in England: www.lepnetwork.net/local-growth-hub-contacts. Firms in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can access business support through the devolved governments.

Lifetime Skills Guarantee: Older Workers

Baroness Sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any of the funding for the Lifetime Skills Guarantee is ring-fenced for workers aged 50 or over.

Baroness Sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many workers aged 50 or over are both (1) on Government-funded retraining or reskilling programmes, and (2) in receipt of furlough payments.

Baroness Berridge: The Lifetime Skills Guarantee was announced by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, in September 2020 and aims to ensure that people across the country can access the education and training they need to succeed throughout their lives. This includes a level 3 adult offer, Skills Bootcamps, a Lifelong Loan Entitlement, and wider work around improving quality and access to apprenticeships.From this April, the level 3 adult offer will support any adult aged 24 and over who does not have an advanced technical certificate, diploma, or equivalent qualification, to access around 400 fully funded level 3 courses. This offer, a long-term commitment backed by £95 million from the National Skills Fund in year one, removes major cost barriers that have confronted adults who want to access training and progress in the labour market. Eligible adults aged 50 and over are equally able to access these qualifications and will be able to benefit significantly from this offer.We have also introduced a series of Skills Bootcamps, starting in six local areas (West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, Liverpool City Region, Leeds City Region, Heart of South West, and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire). We will invest a further £43 million in the 2021/22 financial year to expand Skills Bootcamps across England. Following a competitive application, successful bids will be announced in the spring to ensure many more thousands of adults benefit from this offer.Skills Bootcamps are there to provide in demand skills that help people to get good jobs and progress in their careers. It is vital that all eligible adults have equal opportunities to benefit from the Skills Bootcamps, including those aged 50 or over. No specific portion of funding is ring-fenced for workers aged 50 and above, but local areas and Skills Bootcamps providers target their marketing to encourage diverse participants.Information about age of participants is collected by providers of Skills Bootcamps and will form part of our evaluation to ensure Skills Bootcamps are meeting the needs of all age groups, but figures are not yet available. The level 3 and Lifelong Loan Entitlements have not yet been introduced so there are no participant figures available. The department does not hold information on furloughed workers.Last April the department introduced the Skills Toolkit, an online platform providing free courses to help individuals build the skills that are most sought after by employers. As of 24 January 2021, there have been an estimated 162,300 course registrations and 30,300 course completions. This data is not broken down by age or employment status.

Music: Education

Lord Aberdare: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of practical music education in England.

Baroness Berridge: The government is committed to all pupils and students receiving a high-quality education and it has continued to be the case that music education, including one-to-one lessons, can be undertaken in school, college or university so long as safety precautions are undertaken.In relation to schools, advice has been provided in COVID-19 guidance since August 2020, setting out how teaching music can be conducted safely. This includes visits by peripatetic teachers, including music teachers from music education hubs. The hubs acted swiftly and innovatively to support schools through the COVID-19 outbreak, including the continuation of continuing professional development to classroom teachers.During the COVID-19 outbreak, the department also introduced several initiatives for schools and parents including signposting to a range of online music education resources such as BBC Education, Oak Academy and other professional organisations such as Music Mark.Following the announcement by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, on 22 February 2021, the government published updated guidance for full opening of schools on 8 March. The guidance continues to make clear that the curriculum should remain broad and ambitious so that the majority of pupils are taught a full range of subjects over the year, including music. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.In addition, updated guidance for out-of-school venues, such as supplementary schools providing part-time music provision and private music tutors for under 18s, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.

Students: Disability

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of disabled people undertaking higher education courses.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Her Majesty's Government is committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities receive the support they need to enable them to study alongside their fellow students on an equal basis.It is more important than ever that we tap into the brilliant talent that our country has to offer, and make sure that university places are available to all who are qualified by their academic ability and attainment to pursue them if they wish to do so.Higher education providers wishing to charge higher levels fees (£9,250) must have an access and participation plan agreed by the Office for Students (OfS).These plans set out how they will support students from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented groups – including students with disabilities – to access, to participate and succeed in higher education, and to progress from it. This includes setting targets where the provider identifies the inequalities that it intends to address.The OfS has set itself and the sector a number of long-term target measures to reduce inequalities, including eliminating the gap in degree outcomes between students with and without disabilities.The government expects all higher education providers to fulfil their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to be making reasonable adjustments for all higher education students with disabilities.Wherever possible, students with disabilities should expect to have their needs met through inclusive learning practices, and to have individual reasonable adjustments made by their higher education provider.Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is available to help students with the additional costs they may face because of their disability. It is not means-tested and does not have to be repaid. From the academic year 2021/22, eligible students will be able to access up to £25,000 a year in DSA support, with DSA-funded travel costs uncapped.

Turing Scheme: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether students studying in Northern Ireland will be eligible for the Turing Scheme.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: Yes, the Turing scheme is UK-wide. Universities, colleges, and schools in Northern Ireland are eligible to bid for funding under the scheme, so that students in Northern Ireland can benefit from the opportunities of study and work placements abroad on the same basis as students elsewhere in the UK. The scheme is open for applications now.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the re-opening of the Rafah Border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, what discussions they have had with the governments of (1) Egypt, (2) Jordan, (3) France, and (4) Germany, about action to support the Middle East Peace Process.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We welcome the decision by Egypt to open the Rafah crossing. The UK will continue to urge the parties to prioritise progress towards reaching a durable solution for Gaza and to take the necessary practical steps to ensure Gaza's reconstruction and economic recovery.The UK is committed to making progress towards a two state solution. We believe that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between Israelis and Palestinians, supported by the international community. The UK has regular discussions with the Governments of Egypt, Jordan, France and Germany on the Middle East Peace Process, including at Ministerial level. UK officials in Cairo, Amman, Paris and Berlin have discussed the Middle East Peace Process with their respective host governments in March 2021.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Kavita Kumariwas (1) abducted at gunpoint, and (2) forcibly converted, in Kandhkot, Sindh when she was 13 years old.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government strongly condemns the forced marriage and forced conversion of women and girls in Pakistan. The FCDO does not comment on individual cases.Pakistan remains a FCDO Human Rights Priority Country. We regularly raise our concerns on these issues with the Government of Pakistan. Most recently, I raised our human rights concerns, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 20 February 2021. I also raised the human rights situation in Pakistan with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior, Shahzad Akbar, on 7 December 2020.Through the UK's development support, we have worked with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen and improve Pakistan's police and judicial systems.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the custodian of Bharchundi Shareef Dargah, Mian Mithu,has been responsible for forciblyconvertingunderage Hindu girls in Sindh, including Kavita Kumari.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government strongly condemns the forced marriage and forced conversion of women and girls in Pakistan. The FCDO does not comment on individual cases.Pakistan remains a FCDO Human Rights Priority Country. We regularly raise our concerns on these issues with the Government of Pakistan. Most recently, I raised our human rights concerns, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 20 February 2021. I also raised the human rights situation in Pakistan with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior, Shahzad Akbar, on 7 December 2020.Through the UK's development support, we have worked with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen and improve Pakistan's police and judicial systems.

Abdulhadi Mushaima

Lord Collins of Highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Middle East and North Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 5 March (158193), what representations they intend to make to the government of Bahrain about securing the early release of Abdulhadi Mushaima from prison.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Abdulhadi Mushaima was released on 11 March 2021. He served 3 weeks of a 3 month prison sentence. He was released under alternative sentencing measures.

Bahrain: Human Rights

Lord Collins of Highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment have they made of the news releaseby the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Human Rights Watch Bahrain: Police Beat, Threaten Children,published on 10 March; and what representationsthey intend tomake to the government of Bahrain about the human rights concerns raised in that article.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have read the news release, along with the Bahraini Ombudsman's response to the Human Rights Watch report which provides important clarification and invites Human Rights Watch to provide further details of the cases in question. We believe the recent ratification of the Correctional Justice Act is a positive development for the protection of children in Bahrain, and will monitor its implementation.

Pakistan: Religious Freedom

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of Hindu girls who have been forcibly (1) converted, and (2)married, at the Bharchundi Shareef Dargah.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government strongly condemns the forced marriage and forced conversion of women and girls in Pakistan. The FCDO does not comment on individual cases.Pakistan remains a FCDO Human Rights Priority Country. We regularly raise our concerns on these issues with the Government of Pakistan. Most recently, I raised our human rights concerns, including Freedom of Religion or Belief, with Pakistan's Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, on 20 February 2021. I also raised the human rights situation in Pakistan with the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior, Shahzad Akbar, on 7 December 2020.Through the UK's development support, we have worked with the Government of Pakistan to strengthen and improve Pakistan's police and judicial systems.

Sayed Hasan Ameen

Lord Collins of Highbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by the Minister for Middle East and North Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 1 March (158190 and 158191), whether a UK Government representative attended Sayed Hasan Ameen's hearing in Bahrain (1) on 4 March, and (2) on 11 March.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Covid restrictions prevented Embassy staff from attending the hearings in person. Sayed Hasan Ameen was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, which was replaced with a rehabilitation program under alternative sentencing arrangements within the spirit of the new Child Reform Justice Act. We welcome the retroactive application of the new law's content and purpose, and will monitor its implementation.

Sanctions

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 10 March (HL13681), to provide a list of the individuals, companies and countries that were not sanctioned because the UK statutory tests were not met.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Sanctions List provides details of all individuals and entities designated in UK law under each of the UK's 35 sanctions regimes established under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. This is available online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-sanctions-list. The EU publishes a similar list of all individuals and entities designated under EU sanctions law. This is available here: https://www.sanctionsmap.eu/#/main. The UK does not publish a comparison of the two lists.

Iran: Nuclear Power

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on re-engaging with the government of Iran on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Iran's continued systematic non-compliance with its nuclear commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) is undermining the non-proliferation benefits of the deal and jeopardising our efforts to preserve it. On 23 February 2021, the Foreign Secretary, alongside his French and German counterparts, expressed our deep regret at Iran's suspension of the Additional Protocol and urged Iran to return to compliance with its JCPoA commitments.On 10 March 2021 the Prime Minister in his call with President Rouhani of Iran stressed that while the UK remains committed to making the Iran nuclear deal a success, Iran must stop all nuclear activity that breaches the terms of the JCPoA and come back into compliance. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of Iran seizing the opportunity presented by the United States' willingness to return to the deal if Iran comes back into compliance. Our priority is now, with the parties of the JCPoA and the new US Administration, to find a diplomatic way forward that realises the benefits of the deal.

Jamal Khashoggi

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the United States' Office of the Director of National Intelligence Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi, declassified on 26 February, and what discussions they have had with the government of Saudi Arabia about the conclusions of that report.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has always been clear that Khashoggi's murder was a terrible crime. We condemn his killing in the strongest possible terms, which is why we have sanctioned twenty Saudi nationals involved in the murder under the global human rights regime.The Foreign Secretary raised the killing of Khashoggi during his visit to Riyadh last year, and we continue to raise it in our engagement with the Saudi government.

Syria: Human Rights

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Commission of Inquiry of the Syrian Arab Republic A decade of arbitrary detention and imprisonment, published on 1 March; and what action they intend to take as a result.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: This latest UN report from the Commission of Inquiry shows further confirmation of a decade of appalling atrocities in Syria and is a shocking reminder of why Syria remains one of the worst human rights crises in the world.The UK has repeatedly condemned a number of issues raised in the report, including the use of illegal detention by the Asad regime, affiliated militias and proscribed terrorist organisations. We have raised the plight of detainees at the UN Security Council, most recently during our national statement on 15 March and through our leadership at the Human Rights Council, where this month we are hosting a side event to discuss next steps for accountability. We will also shortly complete an information sharing agreement with the International, Independent and Impartial Mechanism for Syria (IIIM) to strengthen accountability for international crimes and human rights abuses committed in Syria.

Nagorno Karabakh: Peace Negotiations

Lord Kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implementation of the agreement to end military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region; and, in particular, what progress has been made with (1) identifying, and (2) removing, land mines in that region.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and the Americas has been in regular contact with the Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers since the outbreak of hostilities in September. During recent visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan she encouraged both sides to abide by the 10 November trilateral peace deal and settle all outstanding matters through talks under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. The UK Government is aware of the significant dangers posed by large numbers of unexploded ordnance in the region. We continue to evaluate what support we might provide Armenia and Azerbaijan to take forward their removal.

Bulgaria: Migrants

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Bulgaria about reports of (1) police assaults, and (2) valuables being confiscated, from Afghan and Pakistani migrants near the border with Turkey.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is aware of recent reports of a small number of alleged cases of mistreatment of migrants upon arrival in Bulgaria. The number of irregular migrants transiting Bulgaria has reduced in recent months and, although these cases have not been raised specifically, our Embassy in Sofia regularly engages with the government of Bulgaria and international partners on the need to address irregular migration and the challenges it presents.While the UK fully supports the right of States to control their borders, we also expect States to fulfil their international obligations and protect and promote the human rights of migrants, including by investigating reports of alleged mistreatment and by putting appropriate procedures in place to ensure that migrants are treated fairly and appropriately, in line with international standards.

Armenia: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current political situation in Armenia; and, in particular, (1) the reports of an attempted military coup, and (2) the recent protests in the country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government supports both the democratically elected Government in Armenia and the right of the Armenian people to protest peacefully. We followed closely the events surrounding public comments made by senior Armenian military figures, and have urged all parties to abide by democratic and constitutional processes in a calm and peaceful manner.

Voluntary Service Overseas

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to supportVoluntary Service Overseas (VSO) (1) to continue its overseas development work, and (2) to offer voluntary opportunities; and what assessment they have made of the contribution of the experience gained by returning VSO volunteers to wider society inthe UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The impact of the global pandemic on the UK economy has forced us to take the tough but necessary decision to temporarily reduce our aid budget. We are now working through the implications of these changes for individual programmes, including for the Volunteering for Development grant. No decisions have yet been made. We understand the need to communicate with VSO in a timely manner regarding this grant.The UK Government is proud of the outstanding contribution of returned volunteers to their home communities in the UK, particularly during the UK's Covid-19 pandemic response.

Ministry of Defence

Military Aid

Lord Tunnicliffe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what countries the British Armed Forces provided training to on UK territory in (1) 2020, and (2) 2021.

Baroness Goldie: Personnel from the countries listed in the table below have attended defence education or training in the UK in 2019-20 and 2020-21. YearCountries2019/20AFGHANISTAN ALBANIA ALGERIA ANGOLA ANTIGUA & BARBUDA ARGENTINA ARMENIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN BAHAMAS BAHRAIN BANGLADESH BARBADOS BELARUS BELGIUM BELIZE BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA BRAZIL BRUNEI CAMEROON CANADA CHILE CHINA COLOMBIA CROATIA CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK EGYPT ESTONIA ETHIOPIA FIJI FINLAND FRANCE GAMBIA GEORGIA GERMANY GHANA GREECE GRENADA GUYANA HUNGARY INDIA INDONESIA IRAQ IRELAND ISRAEL ITALY JAMAICA JAPAN JORDAN KAZAKHSTAN KENYA KOSOVO KUWAIT KYRGYZSTAN LATVIA LEBANON LESOTHO LITHUANIA LUXEMBOURG MALAWI MALAYSIA MALDIVES MALI MALTA MAURITIUS MEXICO MOLDOVA MONGOLIA MONTENEGRO MOROCCO MOZAMBIQUE NEPAL NETHERLANDS NEW ZEALAND NIGER NIGERIA NORTH MACEDONIA NORWAY OMAN PAKISTAN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES PAPUA NEW GUINEA PARAGUAY PHILIPPINES POLAND PORTUGAL QATAR ROMANIA RWANDA SAUDI ARABIA SENEGAL SERBIA SIERRA LEONE SINGAPORE SLOVENIA SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH KOREA SPAIN SRI LANKA SWEDEN SWITZERLAND THAILAND TONGA TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TURKEY UGANDA UKRAINE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES URUGUAY USA UZBEKISTAN VIETNAM2020/21AFGHANISTAN ALBANIA ARMENIA AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN BAHAMAS BAHRAIN BANGLADESH BELGIUM BELIZE BHUTAN BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA BOTSWANA BRAZIL BRUNEI CAMEROON CANADA CHILE COLOMBIA CYPRUS CZECH REPUBLIC DENMARK EGYPT ESTONIA ETHIOPIA FIJI FINLAND FRANCE GEORGIA GERMANY GHANA GREECE HUNGARY INDIA INDONESIA IRAQ IRELAND ISRAEL ITALY JAMAICA JAPAN JORDAN KENYA KOSOVO KUWAIT LEBANON LITHUANIA MALAWI MALAYSIA MALDIVES MALI MALTA MOLDOVA MONGOLIA MONTENEGRO MOROCCO NEPAL NETHERLANDS NEW ZEALAND NIGER NIGERIA NORTH MACEDONIA NORWAY OMAN PAKISTAN OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES PARAGUAY POLAND PORTUGAL QATAR ROMANIA SAUDI ARABIA SIERRA LEONE SINGAPORE SLOVAKIA SOUTH KOREA SPAIN SRI LANKA SWITZERLAND THAILAND TONGA TUNISIA UGANDA UKRAINE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES URUGUAY USA Note: MOD records information on International Defence Training (IDT) by financial year, rather than by calendar year. Information is taken from a central IDT database. Some activity may not be captured on that database.

Department for Work and Pensions

Disability and Terminal Illnesses: Health Services and Social Services

Baroness Browning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what definitions they use for the purpose of assessing health and welfare needs for (1) severe disability, (2) long-term disability, and (3) terminal illness.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Other than the definition for people who are terminally ill, there is no common definition used for assessing health and welfare needs. What is meant by “severe disability” and/or “long-term disability” will be specific to the benefits or schemes which apply them and could be defined in the legislation applicable and/or the guidance available. The definition of whether a person is “terminally ill” is that they “suffer from a progressive disease and their death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 6 months.”

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Veterinary Medicine: UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to secure a veterinary agreement with the EU.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement puts in place a framework that allows the UK and the EU to take informed decisions to reduce their respective SPS controls, with a commitment to avoid unnecessary barriers. It is in both Parties’ interests for this framework to reduce the rate of SPS checks required. We are open to discussion with the EU on an agreement that goes further in reducing trade frictions between us, but it cannot be on the basis of alignment with EU rules as this would compromise UK sovereignty over our own laws.

Home Office

Immigration Controls: Heathrow Airport

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks by the Chief Operating Officer of Heathrow Airport that queues at border control (1) regularly exceed three hours, and (2) sometimes exceed six hours;what plans they have toprovide more staff to process border procedures; and what assessment they have made of the impactof border control waiting times on the UK’s international reputation.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Wait times in airports can be caused by a number of factors, not just related to resourcing. This includes all mandated border security activity, the volume of immigration case working, additional support, specific security activity and, like many other international destinations, checks in relation to ensuring border health measures relating to the Covid-19 have been complied with.Our teams seek to balance this range of tasking each day. Whilst mindful of passenger wait times and experience, our primary objective is to ensure the security of the border and compliance with border health measures.Like all public services operating throughout this unprecedented global pandemic, there have been additional pressures placed on Border Force and the safety of the public and our staff remains our priority.Resource and staffing requirements at every port, including Heathrow, are continually reviewed by Border Force working with airport operators including Heathrow Airport Ltd.

Visas: British National (Overseas)

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people accessed the British National (Overseas) visa scheme within its first month.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office will release application figures, including those for other routes, in the quarterly migration statistics, which are due to be published on 27 May.

Forced Marriage: Children

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 8 March (HL13499), what estimate they have made of the number of girls resident in the UK who were married abroad when they were underage and brought back to theUK in (1) 2014, (2) 2015, (3) 2016, (4) 2017, (5) 2018, (6) 2019, and (7) 2020.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK is a world-leader in the fight to end the practice of forced marriage, with our dedicated Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) leading efforts to combat it both at home and abroad. The FMU provides support and advice for victims, those at risk, and professionals, through its public helpline, and delivers training and awareness raising activities to professionals and others across the country.The Home Office does not have estimates of the number of girls who are resident in the UK who were married abroad when they were underage and who were brought back to the UK. Information on the cases of actual or potential forced marriage dealt with by the FMU, including age breakdowns, can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forced-marriage-unit-statistics. Statistics for 2020 will be added to this page later this year.Forced Marriage Stats 2019 (pdf, 358.2KB)

Police: HIV Infection

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report bythe National AIDS TrustHIV and the police, published on 11 March; and what steps they intend to take forward on the recommendations about tackling HIV stigma.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: It is critical that the police have access to the most accurate and up to date information on HIV transmission, so that they can accurately assess any risks posed to their own safety in the course of their work and respond appropriately. This will also enable them to help reduce stigma in the communities in which they work.We are pleased that policing stakeholders, such as the Police Federation of England and Wales, have been actively engaged in this review to support police forces in addressing this longstanding issue.The Department of Health and Social Care will consider issues relating to HIV stigma as part of the development of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and the HIV Action Plan, which they plan to publish in 2021.

Police: HIV Infection

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to thereportbythe National AIDS TrustHIV and the police, published on 11 March,what steps they are taking to ensure that police forces have the sufficient resources to tackle HIV stigma effectively.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Department of Health and Social Care will consider issues relating to HIV stigma as part of the development of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and the HIV Action Plan, which they plan to publish in 2021.The Home Office have announced a police funding settlement of up to £15.8 billion for 2021/22. This is a total increase of up to £636 million on 2020/21 for the policing system.

Cabinet Office

Labour Party and Liberal Democrats: Peers

Lord Grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byLord True on 11 February (HL12711) and 8 March (HL13422), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what is their assessment of the equivalent figures for (1) the Labour, and (2) the Liberal Democrat, Party when following a similar methodology to the one used to determine underrepresentation of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords.

Lord True: Reflecting the method in my previous answers, the Liberal Democrat party is over-represented; the Conservative Party is significantly under-represented; the Labour Party has a proportion of seats in this House that is less than its seat share in the Commons, but not by a significant amount. Notwithstanding that, there are different ways of assessing the issue. For example, one may wish to consider the share of this House excluding cross-benchers and bishops, or look at composition of peers taking a political whip. Under both measures, Liberal Democrats are significantly over-represented. The noble Lord will be able to make his own further calculations from public domain information, if he wishes.

Treasury

Treasury: Reorganisation

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to divide Her Majesty’s Treasury into (1) a department for economic and industrial policy, and (2) a ministry of finance; and if they have no such plans, whether they have any plans tochange the structure ofHer Majesty'sTreasury.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: There are no plans to divide the Treasury. The only significant structural change planned, as announced at the Budget, is the establishment of an economic campus in Darlington. The campus is expected to include at least 750 roles from across the Treasury, the Department for International Trade, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Office for National Statistics.

Regional Planning and Development: Finance

Baroness Valentine: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 4 March (HL13627), whether there are funds remaining from (1) the £1.6 billion Stronger Towns Fund, announced on 4 March 2019, and (2) the £675 million Future High Streets Fund, announced on 29 October 2018; whether any such remaining funds are now included as part of the total of their £4.8 billion Levelling Up fund, announced on 25 November 2020; and if so, whether the criteria that must be met for local authorities to bid for such funds has changed.

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK and will operate UK-wide, extending the benefits of funding for priority local infrastructure across all regions and nations. It supersedes and brings together previous funding streams, including allowing towns to apply for funding for high street and town centre regeneration previously funded from the Towns Fund and the Future High Streets Fund. The prospectus sets out further detail for local areas on how to submit bids for the first round of funding for projects starting in 2021-22.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Performing Arts: Insurance

Baroness Bull: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on3 August 2020 (HL7208), what discussions they have had about the creation of a Government-backed reinsurance scheme for live performance following the launch of the Film and TV Production Restart Scheme.

Baroness Barran: The Government is aware of the concerns which have been raised about the challenge of securing indemnity cover for live events. My officials continue to work closely with the affected sectors to understand all barriers to reopening, including financial support, certainty around the public health situation, and the potential challenges of insurance. The bar for considering Government intervention is set extremely high, especially in light of the considerable extension to the furlough scheme and local business support as well as the uncertainty when mass gatherings can take place safely.

Performing Arts: Coronavirus

Baroness Bull: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the financial impact on performance venuesresulting fromreduced capacity audiences when they reopen whilst restrictionsto address the COVID-19 pandemic are in place; and what plans they have to introduce proposals (1) to cover the shortfall in ticket sales, and (2) to assist such venues to remain viable.

Baroness Barran: The Government has been “Here for Culture” throughout the pandemic, and, as we emerge from it, we know that the public will want to be there, too. As our performance venues reopen, we will encourage people to get out there and support them, and we will continue to provide guidance to ensure venues are safe for the public. DCMS has been working closely with the performing arts sectors to ensure that they are ready for reopening. The government published the roadmap on 22 February, which sets out a step-by-step plan to ease restrictions in England cautiously. The design of the roadmap has been informed by the latest scientific evidence and seeks a balance between our key social and economic priorities, whilst preserving the health and safety of the country. The scientific evidence shows that opening too early or too quickly risks a further lockdown.Over the spring, the Government will run a scientific Events Research Programme. This will include a series of pilots using enhanced testing approaches and other measures to run events with larger crowd sizes and reduced social distancing to evaluate the scientific outcomes.Government recognises the significant financial impact of Covid 19 on the performing arts sector and venues. In light of this, the Government is investing an unprecedented £1.57 billion support package for the culture sector, of which over £1 billion has now been allocated, including £800 million to almost 3,800 arts and culture organisations across the country. This includes the many theatres and performing arts venues, which have been supported through this funding. On 4 March, the Chancellor announced £300 million additional funding for the CRF, to continue to support key cultural organisations as audiences begin to return.The first round of the Culture Recovery Fund supported the sector to survive the immediate impact of the pandemic, whilst the second is supported organisations to transition from the challenging months of lockdowns and social distancing to welcoming audiences and visitors back to the country’s theatres, museums, cinemas, music venues and heritage sites.

Events Industry: Insurance

Lord Aberdare: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decision not to offer a Government-backed reinsurance scheme on the number of live music events that will go ahead in the summer.

Baroness Barran: We are aware of the concerns which have been raised about the challenge of securing indemnity for live events. Department officials have been working closely with the affected sectors to understand the challenges and to keep the situation under review. Understandably, the bar for considering government intervention is set extremely high, especially in light of recent announcements including the considerable extension to the furlough scheme and local business support. My officials are continuing to collect evidence of all of the barriers live events are facing to reopening. There are a number of factors which influence the viability of music festivals, and indemnity insurance is only one aspect of this. We are keeping the situation under review and working closely with Her Majesty’s Treasury on this issue to determine the appropriate and most effective response for the sector within the public health context.